This article was co-authored by Kevin Carrillo and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.
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If you’ve woken up with itchy red bites all over your arms or legs, you might be looking at a bed bug infestation. One of the best ways to ID pests is to look for their droppings—and since bed bugs are so small, searching for their feces is a great way to double-check which pest you’re dealing with. Keep reading to learn how you can tell whether or not you have bed bugs in your home to start treating them today.
What Bed Bug Droppings Look Like
Bed bug droppings look like clusters of red or brown spots. They usually consist of digested blood, so fresh droppings will look bright red while old feces is darker. Each dropping is about the size of a ballpoint pen, but since bed bugs like to gather together, you might see lots of droppings in one spot.
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QuestionWhat else looks like bed bugs?Kevin CarrilloKevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.
Pest Control Specialist, MMPCThere's carpet beetles, cockroach nymphs, shiny spider beetles, and book lice, to name a few. Lots of bugs and insects resemble bed bugs, though, so you're better off getting a professional opinion.
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References
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/tools_to_use_when_inspecting_for_bed_bugs
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/biting-insects/bed-bugs
- ↑ https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/bb-identify1.pdf
- ↑ https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/bb-identify1.pdf
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist, MMPC. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
- ↑ https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/pests/bed-bugs
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/how-find-bed-bugs
- ↑ https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/bb-identify1.pdf
- ↑ https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef636
- ↑ https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef636
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/bed-bugs-appearance-and-life-cycle
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist, MMPC. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17847-bedbugs
- ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-to-get-rid-of-fleas/
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/do-it-yourself-bed-bug-control
- ↑ Kevin Carrillo. Pest Control Specialist, MMPC. Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.